In yesterday’s episode of On The Dock with Rick Smith, listeners learned just how brightly Texas shone on the global stage during this year’s City Nature Challenge (CNC) — one of the world’s largest community science events. For the fifth year in a row, several Texas cities ranked among the top ten worldwide, underscoring the state’s growing commitment to conservation, biodiversity, and hands‑on environmental engagement.
The 2026 CNC was record‑breaking across the board. More than 107,000 participants from 747 cities in 62 countries contributed over 2.8 million observations, documenting 75,155 species, including more than 5,600 rare, endangered, or threatened species. Every major category saw an increase from 2025, reflecting a rising global enthusiasm for community‑driven science.
Texas played a major role in that success. Fourteen metropolitan areas across the state logged an impressive 322,416 observations, identifying more than 9,500 species. Among those were 176 Species of Greatest Conservation Need, including iconic Texas wildlife such as the Texas horned lizard, zone‑tailed hawk, tricolored bat, and Texas tortoise. These observations help scientists track population trends, habitat changes, and conservation priorities.
Four Texas urban areas ranked in the top 15 globally for total observations, and Texas alone accounted for 11 percent of all global observations — a remarkable contribution from a single state. The San Antonio Metro Area stood out, ranking second worldwide in both observations and species recorded, and first in number of observers. The Dallas/Fort Worth Metro Area followed closely behind, placing third globally in observations and species documented.
The City Nature Challenge is co‑organized by the California Academy of Sciences and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, inviting people of all ages to photograph and document wild plants, animals, and fungi using the free iNaturalist app. In Texas, the effort is supported by Texas Nature Trackers, a program of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) that empowers everyday Texans to contribute meaningful data to statewide conservation efforts.
The results of the 2026 CNC highlight not only Texas’ extraordinary biodiversity, but also the passion of its residents — families, students, naturalists, and volunteers — who step outside each spring to help tell the story of the natural world around them. Their observations strengthen scientific research, deepen community engagement, and remind us that protecting Texas’ wild places begins with paying attention to what lives in them.
